High pressure greasing control valve



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J. VV. WOODRUFF HIGH PRESSURE GREASING CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. 25, 1932dra MMIIIIIIMIIIIIWWWW. n

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Patented Aug. 20, 1935 wai PATENT torri v. 2,912,031 HIGH PRESSUREGREASING ooN'rnor.

l VALVE- f lJoseph Woodruff); Elizabeth, N. J. 'Y Application November25, 1932, serial m3644388 screams. (o1. 22`1-47.3)1g` The presentinvention relates toanimprovement in manually operable pressure greasegunsor cut-off valves, and has forits principal object the provision ofa cut-off valve for vei N hicle or similar greasingsystems in which thel vgrease is put lunder'abnorrnal pressures in tanks or drums, andisrfed through connecting ducts to the joints, bearings and shackles ofvehicles, under pressure, said'duct being connected mechanicallyto thesaid'joints, etc., by customary connecting fittings. L

Between the source of grease under pressure e and the joint connectingfittings, the present valve may be connected, to cut off the grease l5flow, or to releasev it, as required.

- The present vvalve therefore acts as a control for thel grease flow.It further, has another fea- Iture of importance, and this latterfeature relates to an added means provided'in the control valve, wherebywhen the greasing connector is connected to a joint, it may be operatedto clear out the old grease and force through a fresh charge of grease,and if it meets withr a resistance, due to the caking of the priorcharge of grease therein, the caked prior' charge may be cracked oropened by manipulating the* presf ent control valve to boost thepressure on the grease to much higher pressures than thenorrnal tankl,pressures therein, and thereby 'force the .grease which hassealed thejoint or bearing against normal operationvby the ksaidtank pressures.VTo illustrate; it has been found that'in autojmobiles, the slfiackle`connections between the springs and the unsprung weight of the Vehicle ytankflows to the shackle bearing but isY unable it@ force its waythroughrthe bearing -to clear `o'i'it'and replace the old grease, byr'eason'of the vold grease having cakedandl hardened, then by 0 eraltimes, a small vincrement of greaseeis forced,

" at a higher pressure than ,the tank pressure, into the shackle joint,until the cak'edup seal around `thejoint is broken andthe grease 'flowsfreely,

at tank pressure, through the joint'.r

Y Other features o f advantage, relate to -the "sturdiness of theValvestructure, its simplicity,

higherpressure to break down the dried,- caked e manipulating thehandleof the controlfvalve sev-- means for regulating, by adjustment,for thev amount ofboosting stroke and flowV control of the grease.

` Itwill be obvious from the herein description that modifications `maybe made in the structure hereof withoutY departing from the spirithereof or'the scope'ofthe claims.

Y In the drawing:

Fig.4 1 is a'view in elevation, assembled, ofthe 'control valve with apart thereof in longitudinal axial section Vto better show the detailsthereof; Fig'.-2 is atop view,lookingdown, of Fig. 1; 'Fig. `3 is afragmentary view similar to Fig. 1

showing the component parts in action;

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary view, 'somewhat 15 similar 'to'Figs 1 and`3, showing the pressure Aboosting action ofthe parts;

Fig. Y5 is afsectional View taken on the line 5-5 looking injthedirection of the arrow; and

Fig. 6v isa sectional View taken lon line tft, 20

` Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In Fig. 1, the complete control valve is shown, at itsr lower -inlet endA it is attached by' the threads there shown to a threadedductconnection lfrom a source Vof grease or lubricant `25 under pressure,thesel latter features being well known-and understood, vand forming nopart of the present: invention, are not shown. f

The top orl outlet end B, Fig. lisalso shown threaded to receive"thereona threaded flexible 30 -duct'` on the opposite endof which isconnected l'a bayonet connector for connecting the duct toa coactinglubricating nipple on thejoint or bearing of an automobile or the like,Athis latfter duct connection means being also well known, 3,5

isalso notl shown.' f' f The structure Y'of the controlf valve, in the"presentinstance, is preferablymade up of parts jthreadedly connected toone 'another and they are asV follows:A the body portion l, Fig. 1, is40 made of hexagonal metal,` is threaded at its upper end to receive`thereona split and threaded collar 22, the split endbeing'bored andthreaded to receive therethrough a binding screw which clamps theco1lar'22 to the threaded end of body 45 l and also acts as a pivotallsupport by. reasony yof its-head 237^ and its opposite unthreaded end23fshown in sectionrin Fig. l, thereby to pivotally support themanuallyoperable handle 25, shown insection. vThe lower end of thehandle when vthe valveis in closed position, llies at an angle to themain valve `structure and isnor- Amally soheld by rneansto` be laterdescribed.,KY

The body l is bored to reciprocably mount therein .a cylindricalplunger, having an external-v S 'body 28.

ly located portion 26 to which is threadedly attached a nipple 29'by itsthreaded end 28. The mid-portion 2t of the plunger is of larger diameterthan its ends 26 or 6. 1 The lower end E passes through a bore in theshoulder 2 of the body I, a packing 5, and a second bore in a shoulder Sof the threaded hex tting 3. 'Ifhis latter fitting has a recessed boredand threaded portion l, into which the `lower threaded end of body I istightly screwed upon the packing 5, and the lower end of the hex fitting3 has a reduced threaded end which, in turn fits into the upperkthreaded end lower hex body forming portion 4.

The lower hex body portion 4 is recessed nearly! its entire length as atI2, and terminates iny a threaded bored shoulder asY at- I9, and constitutes the grease inlet port A.

The recess I2 inbody 4, has' loosely mounted therein a hex sectionalbored sleeve .I8,.with turned and reduced ends, slots 34 being"transverselyicut across said ends, the iit ofthe said sleevel, inthe'recess I2, in body 44, being fully shown in Fig. 6. j

Across the bore of sleeve 4 is lxedly mounted a support pin I3 upon theupper face of which rests a coiled spring I6, and against .the lowerface of which rests a coiled Vspring I'I, of lesser power than springI6. Spring I'I rests upon and normally maintains a valve ball I8, innormal closing position upon the valve, edge'or seat of bore I9. y,

'Spring )I S, normally supports a pressure, ball supporting disc I4,Ythe lower cylindrical stem i5 of which rests within the coils of springI6, and keeps disc I4 in operative position. VA valve ball I I, normallyunder upward pressure of spring I6 is seated on an edge valve seat 32,1formed by the boreinshoulderv9and in addition, the

ball II, in its upwardpressed position contacts with the-edge of thebore 8, .which-runs' completely through the plunger member 6-20-26 andtheextension of which continues o n up through tting 29 and itsnippleend 3U, thus constituting a grease channel through to grease'outlet- B.

In Fig. l, at the interior of the threaded nipple 29, is a recessedportion,- into which is mounted a/valve ball 42, showndotted, which ballrests upon the valve edge 4 I, of'l the threaded .end of extension end2B, and` a coiledspring40,

resting upon ball 42, with its other end `resting upon the shoulder 43of the nipple l29, normally maintains said ball 42 to close the end of`duct 8, atthe terminal of extensionZS, of the plunger The lowerextension 6 ofV plunger 20 at its lower end has a small slot 3ltraversing its .front Qedge,` for purposes laterto be described.,

" At theupper end of AVthe plunger body 28, and

on the shoulder formed between the junction of said body and extension26,is located acurved.

facepressure ring 2|, which coacts with the underside of theadjacentyfulcrumace 24 of ythe handle 25, said fulcrum face being boredas `the handle 25, in order to stopits end stroke VVat a desired point,av cam 35, lockable by a set screw 35, is 'rotatably` mounted on body Iand isadjustable, so that its cam face/31' may be brought around tocoact with stop ;45'on .the

handle, for the desired limitations of movement. j As the control Valvesetting is shown in Fig. l, the` grease, under pressure, is stopped frompass- 1 ing through the valve by reason of the normal seating of theball valve II, upon its edge seat 32 on shoulder 9, when the handle isup.

When it is desired to pass grease through the control valve to aconnected vehicle fitting, a slight inward movement of the handle 25, asYin Fig. 3, forces ball II oi'Y its-seat, and the grease, usually under'from 100v tov 400 lbs. pressure,

side of the hex member I0, and up to and past ball II, through-thetraverse slot 3I, which is cut @in the face of the end of extension 6,thence up hicular joint. Y.

So long as the joints or bearingsbeing greased Y are free and uncaked,the greasing progresses in the usual manner, However, as `soon asarbearing, or joint is met with, wherein the grease cannot flow freelythrough and the flow thereof is stopped, the pres'- sure ofthe greaseWithin the device becomes balanced, automatically. Thereupon', the-valveball I8, goes back to its seat closing port I9, and valve ball 42V alsogoes back o n its seat preventing grease already in the joint o rbearngjfrom backiiowing. If, when the pressurev flow of grease is thusstopped, the handle is released, the control valve is then iilled with'grease under considerable pressure, with balls II, VI8 and 42 reseatedin their respective seats. l,

After thisl action, the handle25 is pressed, or squeezed, downwardly itsfullamount of movement, only -limited by the setting of adjustable stopcam 35, the plunger 6 is then forced into the recess y I2 forcing. ballI I, and the member I4, downwardly asin Fig. 4, thus displacing anamount of grease which Vis inV proportion to the inward movement oftheplunger as at G,'Fig. 4, and the grease under pressurebeing trappedbyseated valve ball I8, has its pressure enormously increased, thispressurebeing added to vthe origin al pressure of the grease, causes asmall increment of grease to pass ,the channel 3A! over ball .I I, andfrom thence through duct 8 to the joint. Thus a high pressure, hydraulicactionV is created upon the grease. If one booster stroke is not sumcient, severallmore,v or as many strokes may be given asfrequired, thusto break the caked seal of the joint or bearing being greased. After theseal is broken,the grease iiows normally through the control boostervalve in the usual manner.

Having vthus described myV invention, what I claim is:

1.V A grease flow control means for connection into a high pressuregreasing line, comprising in combination a booster valve having alignedmeans on'its ends for connectingv the same into said line,

said valve having a passage therethrough from end to end,-areciprocable' piston in Vsaid passage having a grease duct therethrough,said duct being disposed insvubstantialA axial relation with said.passagelmanual meansV for moving said piston,

one end of saidplunger having av transverse grease `passage cutjacrosslits face, la bored seat through which saidend passes, alcheckvalve-,on said seat -to 'stop the flow of grease therethrough, means forautomatically holding said check Valve closed Yand* to permit .saidcheck valve to be opened b y lsaid plunger; end, Ya checkvalve lon theopposite lend of said 'plunger` to ,pass greasetherethrough toyautomatically close said second check valve meeting with resistance,both the second and third check valves will be automatically seated,thus trapping the grease within the confines of said booster valve,whereupon further reciproca-` tion of the piston will force the trappedgrease out of the outlet end under amplified pressure.

2. A control device for the dispensing line of a lubricating systemcomprising in combination a body including coacting members havingaligned attaching ends, said body having a straight axial bore extendingtherethrough, a plunger mounted in said bore at one end of the body andhaving thereon a seat, said bore being adapted to cornmunicate with theline at the opposite end of said body, said plunger having extendingtherethrough and coaxial with said bore a duct; a pivot carried by oneside 'of said body adjacent said seat; said body providing a valve seataround its bore at the.

inner end of said plunger, a ball disposed on said valve seat, and an l`shaped lever having its short arm fulcrumed on the seat of said plunger,said arm having its outer end mounted n said pivot, the long arm of saidlever being manipulable and disposed on the opposite side of said bodyadjacent thereto, so that said latter arm may be man-A Yuallyurgedtowards saidbody, whereby to move said plunger and displace the ball fordispensing the lubricant through said duct.

3.A control means for a pressure greasing line comprising in combinationa hollow tubular body including an intake end and having means forattaching said end directly in the'line, said body having a hand gripportion, a hollow tubular piston slidably mounted in the opposite end ofsaid body and having a projecting discharge terminal, an annular seatrigid with said terminal, a pivot rod carried by one side of said bodyat said seat, a displaceable check valve normally closing the passagesof said body `and of said piston, said valve beingy disposed in closingrelation on said body at the inner 'terminal of said piston, said latterterminal having therein a transverse slot, -and an operating leverfulcrumed on said seat, said lever having onenarm pivoted on said rod,and a manipulable arm on the opposite side of said body and spaced fromsaid portion, whereby the latter may be manually gripped so as to drawsaid manipulable arm in- Wardly for sliding said piston to displace thecheck valve so that greasev may flow through said slot and through thehollows of said members.

4. In a control apparatus for a lubricant supvply line, the combinationwith a tubular body having a tubular piston reciprocally' mountedtherein, the bore of the piston being coaxial with the bore of saidbody, a valve at ,the inner end of said piston, spring means urging saidvalve to normally close the passages, said piston having anL outer Vendincluding a fulcrum seat, said body havingl on one side thereof adjacentthe seat a pivot pin; of a lever having a short arm fulcrumed onsaid'seat, said arm having its i outer end pivoted on saidpin, a longarm disposed atr right angles to the first arm and positioned on theopposite side of said body adjacent i thereto, so that saidy long armmay be manually drawn into engagement with said body, whereby to urgesaid piston inwardly so as to displace said valve and open the passages.

5. In a control apparatus for a lubricant supply line, in combination, atubular body ,having a tubular piston reciprocally-mounted in its outllet end, the bore of said piston being coaxial with the bore of saidbody, said piston having an outer end including a fulcrum seat, meansfor attaching the inlet of said body and the outer end of said piston inthe supply line, a valve at the inner end of said piston, spring meansurging said valve to close said passagesrsaid spring means also normallyholding the piston in an outer position, said body having on one sidethereof adjacent said seat a pivot pin; and a substantially I -shapedlever; said lever having the Y outer end of its short arm pivoted onsaid pin, and there being'an opening in the inner end of said arm, theouter end of said Vpiston being passed freely through said opening andthe last mentioned inner end being. fulcrumed on said seat;

the long arm oi said lever being disposed on the opposite side of saidbody adjacent thereto, so that said long arm may be manually drawn intoengagement with said body, whereby tourge the piston inwardly. againstthe action of said spring for displacing the valve to open saidpassages.

Y 6. In a control apparatus for a lubricant supply line,the'combination,according to claim 5, together with adjustable meansdisposed between said body and said long arm, so that the inward'movement of said long arm may be regulated Vto limit the inwardmovement of vthe piston.

JOSEPH W. WOODRUFF.

